December 2, 2009

Revised Price Eligibility for Flats Failing Deflection Standards

Late yesterday on Postal Explorer® we posted an advance copy of our Federal Register proposed rule with revised price eligibility standards for commercial flats failing to meet the upcoming new deflection standards.

The Postal Service's final rule for new mailing standards effective in May 2009 was published in the Federal Register (74 FR 15380–15384) on April 6, 2009. The final rule included new deflection standards, previously applicable only to automation flats, for all commercial flat-size mail. The implementation of the new deflection standards was postponed from the May 2009 date and is being deferred further to June 2010.

This proposed rule generally lessens the consequences for flats failing to meet the new standards from that published in the previous final rule.